Microsoft issues security alert over cyber attack: Reports

San Francisco: Microsoft has alerted some of its webmail users of possible hacker attacks that could access their email accounts illegally, media reports said.

In an email notification to some affected users on Saturday, Microsoft said it became aware of an issue involving unauthorised access to some customers’ web-based email accounts by cybercriminals.

“We have identified that a Microsoft support agent’s credentials were compromised, enabling individuals outside Microsoft to access information within your Microsoft email account” between Jan. 1 and March 28,” Xinhua quoted Microsoft as saying in the email.

The unauthorised access could have allowed unauthorized parties to view or access information of Microsoft email user accounts, such as email address, folder names, and the subject lines of emails, it said.